Scott,
The idea of coupling it with a NAMM show has some appeal. For one thing the manufacturers are already there and so may be willing to host hospitality rooms where the Synthzone members could get a preview of their new offerings. Several years ago, when they were introducing their SD-1, Ketron had a pre-NAMM demo in Anaheim. It went over pretty well, in my opinion. It would be nice if Synthzone could get members into NAMM as well, although that may be wishful thinking.
Paul C.

Hi Angelo, NYC sounds like a great choice too. The only reason I didn't include it was because both NYC & San Francisco's (where I live) hotel-convention rates are a LOT higher than in Vegas, Orlando, and Nashville. I favor a city that's not only, easily accessible from all major cities (by air), offers major vacation destination attractions for the entire family, but one that's comfortably affordable as well. I think I'd probably be willing to travel to almost anywhere (including internationally) for a SZ convention event if enough (say 35-40 +) SZ members are committed to attend. - Scott

Interesting idea, though probably best to schedule the actual SZ event either right before or immediately after the actual NAMM dates as hotel rooms will already be booked solid and whatever remaining rooms availabe (for non NAMM members) will surely be jacked up sky high. - Scott

Rooms are really cheap in Shreveport, home of the Lousisiana Hayride. I can get a casino to give use REALLY good rates in the motel. There are five casinos and I'll be the Host.
But Nashville's good too.
DonM

Hi Scott,

I vote for Vegas. It's a great idea, just don't make it in the middle of the summer. Being a desert rat I know how hot it gets.

There's plenty to do besides gambling. It's become a fun place to take the whole family.

rp

Lets be realistic....IMO this has to be done at least 1 /1/2 to 2 yrs in advance so that people can make arrangements to travel there..if families are involved thats another whole story also...you would have to set a date, weekend or whatever and let the chips fall where they may because whoever can make it attends..... and whoever cannot, won't....this is a huge undertaking...if it becomes an annual thing after that, then on the same weekend every year people can make plans to meet for a mini convention as long as they know when the date is. As much as I would enjoy the idea of meeting many SZ people at once, more realisticly smaller meetings of
SZ players somewhere would be much more feasable. Then you also have to consider who is going to Undertake this
Huge assignment as a Leader/Organizer to make all the arrangements!
Sorry to sound down on the idea but these are my initial Honest thoughts at this time.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 12-24-2003).]

I spent about two weeks investigating this about a year ago, and the bottom line was essentially that unless you had a huge number of people commited to attend, individual dealers and manufacturers were not the least bit interested.

To put this in perspective, the cost per person is almost insignificant in comparison to the other expenses. Sure, most members would be more than willing to spend $50 to $75 a night for a place to sleep, but that doesn't scratch the surface. You would also need a large room for dealers and manufacturers to exibit their wares. The cost of this space is enormous.

A good friend of mine is a show promoter, a person who put these type of events together. One of his shows, which caters to recreational anglers along the east coast, draws more than 30,000 spectators during the four-day show. Obviously, dealers and manufacturers are waiting in line to get into this show, and they're willing to pay premium prices to reach a targeted audience of this size at a single location.

Tell a dealer, especially one of the larger ones, that you're possibly going to have 35 to 50 individuals attending a convention and you would like them to purchase booth space and set up some keyboards for two or three days and most would think you just broke out of the looney bin.

Putting together a convention of this type takes lots of planning, cost a fair amount of money, and involves significant commitment by everyone involved. In realistic terms, I just don't see this happening. Sorry to put a damper on your party, but I sincerely believe I'll see a lot more Synthzone members during my trip in a few months.

Good Luck,

Gary

I vote for Vegas!

I vote for Vegas or Nashville.

I can drive to Vegas. And I can get Jack to come up too. He drives to play Laughin and Reno ocasionally from Arizona anyway.

When rooms were supposed to be $80 and $90 some years back, I went to an asphalt convention being held at one of the "big casino's," but I stayed at the Westward Ho for $15 a night without reservations. A buddy asphalt friend and I just stopped and got a room. The place was surpringly nice to me, but I'm just a poor ole Cajun boy.

He laughed when I told him everyone in my town everyone said to be sure to make reservations and expect to pay $100 a night. He'd been there several times before and knew what was happening.

I suppose if you call Westward Ho to make big plans it would cost a lot more also. I'm just mentioning this in case it would be a hardship for some to fly and pay $100 a night for a room. It might encourage those to drive and stay at the Westward Ho rather than not go at all.

Anyone else had this experience in Vegas?
Boo